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From: janw@inmet.UUCP
Newsgroups: talk.politics.misc
Subject: Re: Spies and the Media
Message-ID: <7802401@inmet>
Date: Sat, 13-Sep-86 13:59:00 EDT
Article-I.D.: inmet.7802401
Posted: Sat Sep 13 13:59:00 1986
Date-Received: Tue, 16-Sep-86 05:31:27 EDT
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Nf-From: inmet.UUCP!janw    Sep 13 13:59:00 1986


[ brkirby@watdragon.UUCP /* ---- "Spies and the Media" ---- */]
>- Why is it that an american  caught  with  secret  documents  is
>"framed" and "innocent", beyond a shadow of a doubt?

He is to be presumed innocent legally until proved guilty.
He won't be, as there's no due process in the USSR.

He is to be presumed innocent by the public, and defended,
unless there's evidence of his guilt. There's none except
the statements of Soviet authorities, and they are not
trustworthy.  

>- Why is a soviet spy automatically "guilty"?

He is not, legally, until proved guilty.

He probably is, in reality, because the prosecution will have  to
prove  its  case  under  stringent conditions - and they wouldn't
want international humiliation - so they must have moved careful-
ly and on good evidence.

>- Do any of the reporters covering the  case  actually  have  any
>evidence  either  way?  or, are they simply assuming Rambo Ronnie
>always tells the truth?

The press has not been noted for this much trust in the  adminis-
tration.  I expect they do have evidence.

>From what I've seen, the U.S. govt. is willing  to  let  Daniloff
>rot  in  jail  in  order  to  have  a topic for jingoistic, anti-
>communist speeches and a reason to refuse to seriously  negotiate
>in Geneva. Any Comments?

The events have proved you wrong.

The government has already buckled under and (this part  is  good)
Daniloff is already out of jail.

Some journalists think it was done for fear the *Soviets* would
refuse to come to Geneva. "Jingoistic, anti-Communist speeches"
from the president - necessary as air to restore the
nation's morale - have unfortunately stopped long ago.

Instead he is going to Geneva - circus at best,
worse if it's serious. 
>		Bruce Kirby
-----------------------
>	Of all the stupid things I could have thought, this was the worst.

Maybe.

		Jan Wasilewsky